Alfred Morris Doesn't Like Free Agency

By ESPN

Dallas Cowboys running back Alfred Morris anticipated his departure from the Washington Redskins. He wasn't happy, but he accepted the inevitable. What he didn't like was something many players want: free agency.

"The free-agency process was very insulting, to just say the least," Morris said in a conference call with the Washington media Wednesday. "I didn't like it one bit. I don't want to do it again."

That process resulted in Morris signing with the Redskins' biggest rival, where he's now a backup to rookie Ezekiel Elliott. Along the way, Morris said he grew tired of hearing people bash his productivity in 2015.

Morris' stats decreased last season for a variety of reasons. The blocking wasn't as crisp and coaches said, though they liked Morris, they didn't think he created enough holes for himself. His supporters say he was still effective. Regardless, Morris' numbers in Washington went from a club-record 1,613 yards as a rookie in 2012 to 751 last year. And his yards per carry dropped from 4.8 as a rookie to 3.7 last season.

The Redskins didn't make a strong attempt to re-sign him.

"By the end of the year, I figured my time there was gone," said Morris, a sixth-round pick by then-coach Mike Shanahan in 2012. "You're not the coach's guy, you're not the GM's guy, they draft a young guy. It's a business, so I expected that. They just had a different plan and I wasn't a part of it and that was OK.

"I can't cry over spilled milk. I just had to go buy me another gallon."

Cruz, Jenkins Take Jabs at Redskins

The fun has begun, and it's not even Redskins week yet.

New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and cornerback Janoris Jenkins took jabs at Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman for not covering Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown on Monday night. Brown had eight receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-16 win over the Redskins.

"Especially if he calls himself -- I don't call him this, he calls himself the best corner in the league -- then you have to go cover the best receivers on the other team," Cruz said Wednesday. "Going in, I thought he was going to follow AB all over the place, but he didn't. So it is what it is. He made his choice."

It just so happens that Cruz's teammate and friend Odell Beckham Jr. was involved in an ugly on-field, back-and-forth altercation last year when Norman was with the Carolina Panthers. Beckham was flagged for three penalties in the contest and suspended one game for his actions. Norman was also flagged for penalties and wrestled Beckham to the ground on multiple occasions.

The two have gone back and forth taking public shots at each other since.

Norman signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Redskins in the offseason, setting the stage for two meetings a season with his archrival Beckham. The first meeting between the two is in Week 3.

Norman told reporters Wednesday that he focuses on the assignments given to him by his coaches.

"I'm doing what I'm asked to do and doing it to the best of my abilities, trying to be a cerebral assassin on details and assignments, which my coaches ask me to do," he said. "Trying to be a technician of the game. Anything I can do, I'm all for it. Whether I travel or not travel to one side, left side, who really cares? Just get the job done. Whoever gets the job done, so be it.

"All this talk about this guy matchups up this guy, who really frickin' cares? Come out with a W and win the game. That's hogwash. That's what people talk about. Of course we want to go up against each other because our competitive egos are through the roof. It's one of those things that comes with the territory."

Indianapolis Colts

Outside linebacker Robert Mathis did not practice Wednesday because of a foot injury. He said on his weekly radio show on WNDE 1260 AM in Indianapolis that he has a hyperextended toe and is wearing a protective boot. The Colts can't afford to lose Mathis, who was held out of the preseason, because they had only one sack in their Week 1 loss to Detroit. Trent Cole, who had three sacks last season, will likely start if Mathis doesn't play. -- Mike Wells

Chicago Bears

The biggest injury concern for the Bears is still Kyle Long's left shoulder. Long is determined to play the entire year on a torn labrum, but he is often in visible pain during and immediately after games. Long deserves a ton of credit for attempting to play through such a difficult shoulder injury, but there is concern that eventually the shoulder will simply give out. Long is such an important member of the offensive line. It's hard to envision the Bears running the football successfully without him at right guard, where he has been voted to multiple Pro Bowls. -- Jeff Dickerson